Car hire top tips

Age of driver

Due to insurance regulations, drivers aged 17-20 or over 75 will need a specialist rental company as travelsupermarket.com aren’t able to fulfill these requirements.

Drivers aged between 21 and 24yrs at the time of rental may be subject to an underage driver surcharge, this is generally payable locally, please see the car hire company web site for further details.

Driver age

Age of driver

Due to insurance regulations, drivers aged 17-20 or over 75 will need a specialist rental company as travelsupermarket.com aren’t able to fulfill these requirements.

Drivers aged between 21 and 24yrs at the time of rental may be subject to an underage driver surcharge, this is generally payable locally, please see the car hire company web site for further details.

Pick up time

10:00am

Drop off time

10:00am

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When you pick up your hire car, you need to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. Whether it's your first time hiring a car or you've done it a hundred times, not all car hire companies have the same terms and conditions.

Read our top tips to ensure you're fully prepared for any eventuality...

Not all car hire companies have the same terms and conditions...

1. Terms and conditionsAlways read the terms and conditions of the car hire company's website carefully.

2. Car type not what you ordered?Most car hire companies will illustrate a particular type of car or 'similar', therefore, the car your pick up might not be the exact make and model that you selected from the website - just a similar size.

3. PetrolBefore taking the car away, check the petrol situation. Have you paid for a full tank? How much is actually in the tank? How much needs to be in the tank when you return the car? If you need to return with a full tank, check where the nearest petrol station is to where you need to return the car to.

4. ExcessClarify the excess situation. Even if you pay to reduce the excess to zero you may still be liable for damage to certain parts of the car e.g. tyres/windscreen. Ensure you're FULLY briefed what the excess situation is BEFORE you drive the car away.

5. InsuranceCheck the insurance covers you for all aspects of your trip, especially if you plan to take the car off-road or on un-surfaced or gravel pathways.

6. ExtrasMake sure the paperwork states exactly what you have paid for i.e. insurance, taxes and charges for additional drivers, car seats etc.

7. Car sizeEnsure you book the right type of car for your needs i.e. is there enough space for your luggage, pram child seats etc.

8. ChecksWhen you pick the car up, make thorough checks for any damage, to ensure you're not blamed for them when you return the car. If you spot anything, even tiny scratches, make sure these are verified by the car hire company before you drive the car away.

9. Contact detailsEnsure you keep the car hire company's contact details with you in case of emergencies. Check if there is any breakdown cover or who to call in the event of.

10. Returning the carCheck where you need to return the car to. If this is off the airport site, make a note - it may not be from the same place you picked the car up from. Make sure you have enough time to drop the car off and get it checked over.

11. Late drop-offMost car rental agreements are made on a 24 hour hire basis. Therefore, returning your car late may incur an extra day's rental to be added to your bill.

12. Check your credit card statementCheck your credit card statements after you've paid for your car hire to ensure that no unauthorised extras have been charged to your card. If they have, request a full explanation of the charges immediately via the car rental company or broker, keeping a record of any correspondence.

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